OD&D Reference Document

Superceded by Wolves Upon the Coast

Characters

There are no character classes.

Saves are different from the standard:

• Poison & Petrifaction/Paralysis are combined into Physique.
  
• Wands/Rays & Breath Weapon are combined into Dodge.
  
• Magic is termed Warding.

There are three Characteristics:

• Strength - measures raw physical power.
• Dexterity - measures manual dexterity.
• Constitution - measures endurance.

They are generated by rolling 3d6.
Characters begin play with 3d6*10 silver pieces (or local cultural equivalent), which can be used to purchase items or held in reserve.

HD values are the number of d6s rolled to generate HP.

Characters forgoing armour add 4 to their Dodge Rolls.
Characters wearing Light Armour add 2 to their Dodge Rolls.
Characters wearing Heavy Armour subtract 2 from their Dodge Rolls.

Their attack bonus begins at +2, and increases by 1 every level.

etc

Magic

Is not to be trifled with.

Additionally, Wonder and Wickedness should be used where more effects are required.

Equipment

n.b. Damage is 1d6 by default, with the size of the weapon giving dis/advantage. (That is - Light weapons roll damage twice and take the worse result, Heavy weapons roll twice and take the highest result. Medium weapons just roll once.)

† denotes a weapon with reach, being able to strike from behind another
* denotes weapons requiring two hands
Riposte: Attacks against the wielder which score below 7 (before AC is applied) result in the wielder being able to attempt a counter-attack, resolved normally.

Before damage is rolled, a shield may be sacrificed to negate a single strike. This only works for conventional strikes - other, specific types of shields might stop magical attacks.

Encumbrance

Characters may carry items equal to their AC. Large objects count as two items. Beasts of burden may carry 20 items. Mules may carry 24.

Experience

Every 1sp of treasure recovered is worth 1xp. To count as recovered, it must be transported back to safety. Once it is summed up, the XP is split between all members of the party. Hirelings have a half-share of XP and usually the treasure itself.

Exploration

Each dungeon room explored per delve is worth (10 * number of rooms explored this delve) XP. This XP is awarded to each character, and is not split like treasure. Hirelings do not take a share. e.g. exploring 3 rooms = 60XP (10 + 20 + 30). A delve is a single expedition, ending when safety is returned to or found. Rooms can only be ‘explored’ once.

Same applies to hexes in Wilderness.

Stolen from NGR

Monsters

Only monsters of note cause XP gain. This XP is awarded to each character, and is not split like treasure. Hirelings do not take a share.

Stolen from NGR

Oaths

XP can also be gained by fulfilling a oath set by the player. An oath can involve anything worthy of the adventurer (theft, revenge, travel to X place, etc.) but it must be specific and only one oath may be achieved either per session or per level. Oath provide XP equal to the adventurer’s last attained level. However, once a oath is made, an adventurer only gains 1/2 XP from finding treasure until her oath is achieved.

Stolen from here

Funerals

Characters may ‘purchase’ the XP of a dead party member by throwing a lavish funeral, spending 1sp for each xp ‘purchased.’

A Good Death

Characters dying in noteworthy ways - especially the sort likely to be immortalised in song - may create a level 2 replacement character, rather than the usual level 1 character.

Saves and Tests

If discussion does not offer an obvious resolution, a suitable Attribute may be tested. Players attempt to roll under the attribute on a variable number of d6s to succeed. Easy tasks with consequences for failure use 2d6. Challenging tasks use 3d6. Hard tasks use 4d6. Items or abilities which help (or hinder) should modify the number of dice rolled.

Saves are called for when discussion is unsuitable - often as a consequence of action.

Dodging is used to avoid peril.
Physique is used to fight poison and disease.
Warding is used to resist magic.

To save, a character must roll over the appropriate category on a d20. This roll may be modified.

Combat

To attack, roll 1d20 and add your attack modifier and the AC of the opponent. If this value is 20+, the opponent is struck and damage is rolled. Damage is 1d6 by default, with the size of the weapon giving dis/advantage. (That is - Light weapons roll damage twice and take the worse result, Heavy weapons roll twice and take the highest result. Medium weapons just roll once.)

Reaction

When attitudes are uncertain or chaos desirable, roll 2d6 and consult the table below. Reputation may modify this roll, a strong opinion eliciting a +/- 4.

Determining what these results in the situation is a matter of experience and extrapolation. It may also reveal facts about the group - especially extreme results necessitating explanation.

Bestiary

Here